A fantastic development from Blackpool Council as it takes steps to protect its local heritage.
The Council have removed all permitted development rights for locally listed buildings, giving them more protection under the planning system and avoiding alterations and demolition without consent.
Locally listed buildings are vulnerable to demolition because they currently fall outside the protections provided by listed building legislation. In addition, changes to fenestration, re-painting, or poorly considered extensions that permitted without the need for planning consent can also harm the aesthetic and historic appearance of a building. Blackpool Council has moved to address this issue by introducing a new Article 4 Direction that will begin in 2023 and apply to all buildings on the List of Buildings of Local Architectural and/or Historic Interest (also known as the Local List) outside conservation areas.
The Direction will remove the permitted development rights which allow total demolition or external alterations to locally listed buildings outside conservation areas and means that planning permission will be required for these changes in future, giving the council and communities a better chance to protect and manage more historic buildings within the City of Blackpool, giving them more protection under the planning system and avoiding alterations and demolition without consent. HB&P encourage more local authorities to consider introducing similar initiatives.
